Magnet controlled connectors



Feb. 21, 1956 J. H. SIMPSON 2,755,991

MAGNET CONTROLLED CONNECTORS Original Filed Des. 24. 1949 la 1. A?

I2 3 ,4 MW /3 Hil 49 2,735,991 MAGNET CONTROLLED CONNECTORS James H. Simpson, Ladue, Mo., assignor to Joy Manufacturing Company, Pittsbur Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Continuation of application Serial No.

ber 24, 1949. This application July No.370,07tl

134,925, Decem- 24, 1953, Serial 9 Claims. (Cl. 339-86) This invention relates to electrical cable connectors, and particularly to connectors of the so-called swivel coupling type.

Swivel couplings, in a well known form, include molded rubber connectors provided with pin and socket elements adapted to be engaged with each other to establish circuits-one or more, dependent on the number of pin and socket elements, and they are equipped with threaded metal collars, sleeves or couplings that prevent accidental disconnection and which, through relative rotation, may move the pin and socket elements longitudinally relative to each other. The pin and socket elements may be arranged on the cooperating connectors so that all of one kind are on one connector and all of the other kind are on the other connector, or some of each kind may be on each connector, and so from time to time herein the term plug-socket will be used to designate generically a connector element having only pin elements, having only socket elements, or having both types of elements thereon. It may also be noted that plug-socket contacts may be either of power, ground, or pilot type depending upon the circuits of which they form parts. The metal collars, sleeves or couplings are supported for relative rotation, and either or both of a cooperating pair may be rotatably mounted on its connector; and the sleeves may be supported in some cases by ball bearings arranged on metal collars at the periphery of one or both of the molded rubber couplings; and the sleeves respectively carry eX- ternal and internal threads which may be readily engaged and disengaged by relative rotation, which rotation may be effected by hand or by a wrench, by reason of the free turning of at least one of the metal couplings surrounding the rubber connectors.

i The current flowing in the power circuit or circuits established by such connectors is frequently substantial, and it is unsafe to have such circuits broken by the separation of the pin and socket elements from each other while there is current flowing in the conductors which are connected by such elements.

It has been proposed to provide the couplings with magnetically releasable locks, which a supervisory workman equipped with a magnet would release only after the current is cut off from the circuit orcircuits of which the connector forms a part. One such arrangement was shown in the application of Norman I. Bailey, Serial No. 126,402, filed November 9, 1949, for Swivel Couplings with Magnet Controlled Lock, which application is now abandoned, a continuation-in-part thereof, Serial No. 226,055 having been filed on May 12, 1951. As illustrated in the Bailey applications the locking means may include a pivotedlatch carried by one of the threaded metal couplings and engageable with a notch or notches formed on the other of said metal couplings. The present invention is an improvement over the invention of said Bailey.

Objects of the present invention are to'provide an improved releasable connector locking means, of the type mentioned, and an improved connector having improved 2,735,991 Ce Patented Feb. 21, 1956 magnetically releasable locking means. Other objects and advantages of the invention will hereinafter more fully appear.

In the accompanying drawings, in which for purposes of illustration one embodiment of the invention is shown:

Fig. 1 is a view of a connector, herein shown as having but a single pair of cooperating plug-socket elements incorporated in it, the view being in general a central longitudinal sectional view through the connector, but parts being shown in elevation.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary transverse sectional view on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view on the section line 3-3 of Fig. 2, the view turned Fig. 4 is a cross sectional view, on a reduced scale, taken on the section line 44 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary peripheral view of the left hand connector in Fig. 1 showing one of the grooves with which the latch is adapted to cooperate.

Fig. 6 is an outside view, on a reduced scale, of the right-hand connector part of the device of Fig. 1.

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of a latch.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary sectional view of the parts shown in the upper portion of Fig. 1, showing the latch in released position.

Referring to the drawings, and initially particularly to Fig. 1, it will be observed that there is shown a pair of connector plug members 1 and 2, each formed of a suitable dielectric material such as molded rubber, and provided with mutually opposite faces 3 and 4, having annular ridge type water seals 5, 5. Each of the plug members 1 and 2 is provided in the structure shown with but one connector element, a pin element, herein shown on the plug member 1, being designated 7, and a socket element 8, adapted to receive the pin element 7, being shown on the plug member 2. Obviously a plurality of pairs of plug-socket elements might be used. A projecting sleeve portion 9 formed on the plug member 1 surrounds the pin element, and a recess 10 in the plug member 2 is formed to receive this sleeve portion. These provide an additional sealing, and also additional assurance of centering for the plug members 1, 2. Each of the plug members 1, 2 is provided with an annular ball seat-providing member 12, each providing a circumferential groove 13 in which a series of bearing balls 14 are received and guided. The ball seat providing members are desirably metallic and they are desirably molded in position on the plugs. Suitable conductors are connected to the plug and socket elements, these being numbered 15 and 16 respectively. The plug members 1 and 2 are carried at the adjacent ends of cable sections, not illustrated, being vulcanized, desirably, to the latter.

Each of the plug members 1 and 2 is surrounded by a coupling sleeve, the one associated with the plug member 1 being designated 21 and the one connected with the plug member 2 being designated 22. These sleeves or collars are desirably of bronze, brass or other non-magnetic material. These have internal circular grooves 23 formed in them, these grooves being wider than the grooves 13 and cooperating with the rows of balls 14 providing for a limited degree of free relative longitudinal movement of the sleeves 21 and 22 with respect to their associated plug members 1 and 2. A suitable flexible rubber or the like annular shield 25 is adapted to extend over the joint between the sleeves 21 and 22 and is mounted in suitable longitudinal relation to the coupling sleeve 22 by means of an internal groove 26 and a projecting annular portion 27 formed on the coupling sleeve 22. An annular portion 28 of reduced thickness is so arranged on the sleeve 22 as to provide an annular recess 29 in which the coupling portion of the coupling sleeve member 21 is receivable. A groove and lug connection 2,735,991 r r e r 3 30 connects the shield 25 in non-rotative relation to the sleeve 22.

The adjacent ends of the sleeve members 21 and 22 are each threaded. The adjacent end of the sleeve 21, designated for easy identification 31, is internally threaded as at 32 for a substantial length from its free end. The outer end portion 33 of the coupling sleeve 22 is externally threaded as at 34, and the two sets of threads are adapted to draw the parts together and secure them in connected relation, and the threads may be readily connected and released because the coupling sleeves are freely rotatable on the connector plugs and have, to aid in turning them, indentations 36 and 37-the former a part of the connection 31 above mentioned-forrned around their peripheries so that they may be easily grasped either manually or by wrench. The threaded connection is shown as of the fire hydrant type.

The threaded portion 34 of the coupling sleeve 22 may be provided with one or more longitudinally extending peripheral recesses or grooves, one being shown in the form of a parallel sides groove at 41. If it be desired to insure effective engagement of the lock upon relatively short arcs of rotation additional grooves may be provided.

The coupling sleeve 21 has, as shown, a longitudinally extending opening or slot formed through its peripheral wall, this opening generally designated 50 having opening into its opposite sides grooves 51 and 52 formed in the inner wall of the sleeve member 21 and arranged in line with each other. A cross-shaped latch member 53 is adapted to be received in the opening 50 and in grooves or reams 51, 52. This latch includes a straight portion 54 and arm portions 55, 55, made of material of high magnetic permeability. At least the arm portions, or, in any event, portions of the latter, may be attracted and drawn outwardly by a magnet, as later explained. The opening 51 is closed at its outer side by a cover plate 56,

razed, or silver soldered, or otherwise suitably secured to the outside of the sleeve .21. The end of the latch 53 is traversed by an opening 65), through which there extends a pin 61 having a head 62 for supporting the latch at one end. The pin is shouldered at 63 and is headed over in the cover plate 56 as at 64, and it clamps a thin, flexible, preferably non-magnetic spring 65 between its shoulder and the cover plate 56. A rivet 66 clamps the cross-member of the latch member 53 to the longitudinally extending portion of the latter. The cross-arm or armature portions 55, 55 are notched at their free ends as at 67 to cooperate with guide pins 68, 68 fixed in the sleeve 21.. These pins have heads 69, 69 which limit the inward pivotal movement of the latch element so that the free end of the latter may not move radially inwardly too far. The spring 65 engages the latch and presses the latter inwardly, but may be overcome by the pull on the arms or portions 55, 55 exerted by a suitable magnet. The cover plate 56 is not of uniform width throughout its length, and it has a parallel-side-walled portion 76 extending from its end on which the pin 61 is secured, towards the free end of the sleeve 21, to a point just beyond the recesses 51, 52, where the cover plate has a wider portion 71 providing shoulders 72, 72, extending circumferentially of the sleeve 21 and facing towards the cable connected end of the member 1. These shoulders are adapted to act as positioning means for, and to be engaged by the sides of the poles of, a horseshoe magnet. Such a magnet is shown at M and has its poles separated by a distance such as to enable them to pass readily over the cover portion 7% into end engagement with the periphery of sleeve 21 directly over the recesses 51, 52 and hence into rather close proximity to the armature made up of the arms 55, 55. Here it will act to release the engagement of the latch portion 54 with any groove 41 with which it may be in seated engagement.

Evidently the recesses 51, 52 might, like the slot 50, extend completely through the sleeve 21, and the cover plate 56 would then extend over and cover the cross shaped opening through the wall of the member 21. So also, if desired, the slot 50 might be formed as an internal groove, rather than being cut through the member 21 and covered.

The mode of operation of the structure described will be readily understood. Before explaining this mode of operation, however, it might be well to observe that the relative lengths of the plug and socket elements and the overlapping sleeves may be varied, if desired, so that an electrical connection cannot be made until after a magnet has been applied to draw the latch to a position permitting threading of the sleeves 21 and 22 together, and also so that separation of the plug-socket elements would take place before separation of the sleeve members could occur.

With the structure illustrated, it will be noted that the plug element 7 will enter the socket element 8 as the coupling members are brought together, and a short period of relative rotation between the sleeves 21 and 22 can take place before the latch, if not magnetically held out, would prevent rotation. It" the magnet is not applied the latch will drop into one of the slots 41 at its end very quickly after the threading together of the sleeves 21 and 22 is commenced. It will then be necessary to apply a magnet, as above explained, and move the free end of the latch radially out to the position shown in Fig. 8 before the completion of the coupling of the parts together will be possible. After the parts are fully coupled, as they are shown in Fig. 1, they will be held, upon removal of the magent, through the dropping of the free end of the latch 53 into one of the grooves 41. If in the completely threadedly connected position of the sleeves a groove 41 does not immediately underlie the free end of the latch it will be evident that only, at most, on the order of one relative turn between the threaded connections will be possible before latch engagement will take place.

When it is desired to release the connector parts a magnet as illustrated in construction at M in Fig. 8 will be applied with the sides of its poles. against the shoulders 72, 72, and with the ends of its poles against the peripheral surface of the thin portion of the sleeve member 21. The magnet will then attract the arm portions 55, 55 of the latch and lift the latter to the position shown in Fig. 8, and so long as the magnet remains in the position mentioned, complete separation of the connector parts will be possible. It may be noted that the end of the latch portion 54 is beveled as at so as to permit a greater lift, and make certain that the latch will completely clear the tops of the threads 34.

While, in the construction illustrated, the arms 55, 55 only are formed of a material of high magnetic permeability, it will be evident that the entire latch member 53 might be made of such material if desired. It will be noted that the transverse arms 55, 55 provide the latch 53 with a portion much wider than the width of the straight portion 54 of the latch. It will be observed that the portion 54 of the latch 53 lies in part in the recess 50 and in part in a slot or recess 41, when the latch is in rotation preventing position, and that, in such position, its bottom is parallel to the axes of the sleeves 21, 22 and, substantially at least, in contact with the bottom of the groove 41 in which it is partially received. The latch 53 will be noted to be relatively straight from end to end, at least at its lower side, and to pivot between an inward positionin which its bottom is parallel to the axes of the sleeves and in which it lies in part in both of the recesses 41 and 50 and another, angular position in which the end of its portion 54 is swung inwardly enough to lie wholly outside the groove 41 it had previously occupied, and the end of the portion 54 is beveled as at 80 to permit the necessary outward movement. The pins 168 coact with the latch 53 near the opposite sides of the atter.

The employment of a cross shaped latch enables the provision of a very compactstructure. The magnet may be applied with its poles in the same circumferential zone on the sleeve 21 instead of having them so positioned that without an increase in the length of the latch one of the poles would be ineffective in latch release. A very convenient latch positioning means is provided by the cover plate mentioned. Both poles of the magnet may exert their full lifting effect, and a simple and powerful arrangement is provided.

While there is in this application specifically described one embodiment which the invention may assume in practice, it will be understood that this form of the same is shown for purposes of illustration and that the invention may be modified and embodied in Various other forms without departing from its spirit or the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is: j

1. In a plug-socket connector, in combination, a pair of insulating bodies each carrying at least one power plug-socket contact formed and positioned forconnection with a power plug-socket contact on the other body, housing means for at least the mutually adjacent ends of said bodies comprising screw collars one on each of said bodies and freely rotatable relative thereto, said screw collars so formed and so mounted on said bodies that relative rotation between them, when they are in coaxial relation, may effect relative longitudinal movement between the power plug-socket contacts on said bodies, and means precluding inadvertent separative movement between said collars including a cross-shaped, magnetically releasable latch having a crossarm and carried by and housed within one of said collars and pivotally supported at one side of its crossarm and means forming an elongated slot in the other of said collars extending longitudinally of the latter for receiving the portion of said cross-shaped latch at the other side of said crossarnr and from which slot said portion is swingable outwardly to effect unlatching.

2. In aplug-socket connector, in combination, a pair of insulating bodies each carrying at least one power plug-socket contact formed and positioned for connection with a power plug-socket contact on the other body, housing means for at least the mutually adjacent ends of said bodies comprising screw collars one on each of said bodies and freely rotatable relative thereto, said screw collars so formed and so mounted on said bodies that relative rotation between them, when they are in coaxial mutually contacting relation, may effect relative longitudinal movement between the power plug-socket contacts on said bodies, and means precluding inadvertent separative movement between said collars including a cross-shaped, magnetically releasable latch having a longitudinal portion and further having a crossarm of high magnetic permeability, said latch carried by and housed within one of said collars and pivotally supported adjacent one end thereof by said one of said collars and means forming an elongated slot in the other of said collars opening outwardly and extending longitudinally of the latter for receiving the portion of said longitudinal portion which is remote from such pivotal support and from which slot said portion is swingable outwardly to effect unlatching, said collar housing said latch having means thereon for positioning a horseshoe magnet with its poles each overlying an arm of said crossarm.

3. In a plug-socket connector, in combination, a pair of insulating bodies each carrying at least one power plug-socket contact formed and positioned for connection with a power plug-socket contact on the other body, housing means for at least the mutually adjacent ends of said bodies comprising screw collars one on each of said bodies and freely rotatable relative thereto, said screw collars so formed and so mounted on said bodies that relative rotation between them, when they are in threaded engagement with each other, may eifect relative longitudinal movement between said power plug-socket contacts and between said bodies, one of said collars externally grooved and the other having a slot therethrough, and means precluding substantial inadvertent relative rotation between said screw collars including a pivoted latch swingable in the slot in one of said screw collars and engageable with an external groove in the other, and having at least a portion thereof magnetically permeable, said slot having a cover thereover providing a magnet-positioning abutment having magnet guiding surfaces for guiding a magnet for movement longitudinally of said connector for facilitating the location of a magnet in a position to attract said latch.

4. In a plug-socket connector, in combination, a pair of insulating bodies each carrying at least one power plug-socket contact formed and positionedfor connection with a power plug-socket contact on the other body, housing means for at least the mutually adjacent ends of said bodies comprising screw collars one on each of said bodies and freely rotatable relative thereto, said screw collars so formed and so mounted on said bodies that relative rotation between them, when they are in coaxial relation, may effect relative longitudinal movement between the power plug-socket contacts on said bodies, and means precluding inadvertent separative movement between said screw collars including a magnetically releasable latch having rotation-preventing abutment surfaces and carried by one of said collars within the exterior periphery thereof and disposed with said abutment surfaces longitudinal of said collar, said latch disposableparallel to the axis of said collars when in rotation preventing position, and obliquely to said axis when in releasing position and having its outer end externally bevelled to permit increased moving thereof.

5. In a plug-socket connector, in combination, a pair of insulating bodies each carrying at least one power plug-socket contact formed and positioned for connection with a power plug-socket contact on the other body, housing means for at least the mutually adjacent ends of said bodies comprising screw collars one on'each of said bodies and freely rotatable relative thereto, said screw collars so formed and so mounted on said bodies that relative rotation between them, when they are in coaxial mutually engaging relation, may effect relative longitudinal movement between the power plug-socket contacts on said bodies, and means precluding inadvertent separative movement between said screw collars including a groove in one of said collars extending longitudinally thereof with its bottom parallel to the axis of said collar and a magnetically releasable latch pivotally mounted at one end and having rotation-preventing abutment surfaces and carried by the other of said collars Within the exterior periphery thereof and disposed with said abutment surfaces longitudinal of said collar, said latch disposable in said groove parallel to the axis of said collars when in rotation preventing position, and obliquely to said axis when in releasing position and having its outer end externally bevelled to permit increased moving thereof.

6. In a coupling plug, in combination, connector elements of non-conducting material, power contact elements carried by said connector elements and mutually eugageable to establish electrical circuit connections, noumagnetic coupling sleeves surrounding and freely rotatable relative to said connector elements, said sleeves releasably interlockingly connectable to each other and housing and preventing separation of said contact elements and of said connector elements, lock means for preventing the release of one of said sleeves from the other and their connection when disconnected, said lock means including a lock element housed within one of said sleeves and operable by pull exerted thereon by a magnet external to said sleeves to release said lock means, and means for guiding a magnet into position for the exertion of its pull on said lock element including a guide having opposite sides extending parallel to the axis of said sleeves and shaped and spaced for coaction with the poles of a horseshoe magnet for guiding the poles of such a magnet.

'7. In a coupling plug, in combination, connector elements of non-conducting material, power contact elements carried by said connector elements and mutually engageable to establish electrical circuit connections, nonmagnetic coupling sleeves surrounding and freely'rotatable relative to said connector elements, said sleeves releasably interlockingly connected to each other and housing and preventing separation of said contact elements and of said connector elements, lock means for preventing the release of one of said sleeves from the other, said lock means including a lock element housed within one of said sleeves and interlockingly engageable with the other by inward motion and operable by pull exerted thereon outwardly by a magnet external to said sleeves to release the same, and means for guiding a magnet into position for the exertion of its pull on said lock element including a magnet guide on one of said sleeves at the exterior thereof and having opposite sides extending parallel to the axis of said sleeves and disposed for engagement by mutually opposite lateral surfaces of the poles of a magnet. k

8. In a coupling plug, in combination, connector elements of non-conducting material, power contact elements carried by said connector elements and mutually engageable to establish electrical circuit connections, nonmagnetic coupling sleeves surrounding and freely rotatable relative to said connector elements, said sleeves releasably interlockingly connected to each other and housing and preventing separation of said contact elements and of said connector elements, lock means for preventing the release of one of said sleeves from the other, said lock means including a lock element housed within one of said sleeves and operable by pull exerted thereon by a magnet external to said sleeves to release said lock means, said lock element having a transverse armature portion between its ends and means, mounted on said last mentioned sleeve, for guiding a magnet into position for the exertion of its pull on said lock element and locating it in the same transverse zone with said armature portion including a guide having opposite sides for guiding the poles of a magnet and having transverse abutment portions for stopping magnet movement in proper relation to said armature portions. ,7

9. In a coupling plug, in combination, connector elements of non-conducting material, power contact ele ments carried by said connector elements and mutually engageable to establish electrical circuit connections, nonmagnetic coupling sleeves surrounding and freely rotatable relative to said connector elements, said sleeves releasably interlockingly connected to each other and housing and preventing separation of said contact elements and of said connector elements, lock means for preventing the release of one of said sleeves from the other, saidlock means including a lock element housed within one of said sleeves and extending longitudinallythereof and operable by pull exerted thereon by a magnet external to said sleeves to release said lock means, said lock element having a transverse armature portion disposed between its ends and forming projections from its opposite sides, and means, mounted on said last mentioned sleeve, for guiding a magnet into position for the best exertion of its pull on said lock element and locating it with its poles in the same transverse zone with said armature portion including a guide having opposite sides for guiding the poles of a magnet for movement longitudinally along said last mentioned sleeve and having transverse abutment portions for stopping such longitudinal magnet movement in proper relation to said armature portions.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

